Why did it take Russia more than a year to take control of Chasov Yar?
Russia has taken full control of Chasov Yar, ending the longest offensive in the history of special military operations; how difficult was the assault here?
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•03/08/2025
On July 31, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced that the Russian military (RFAF) had completely controlled the city of Chasov Yar, meaning that Russian forces had gained control of the Shakhtin district, the last district controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The RFAF’s control of Chasov Yar also means that they have captured the highest terrain in the Donbass region that the enemy is controlling. Kiev understands that losing this high ground will give the RFAF another advantage, for which they will have to pay “a lot of blood”.
The RFAF campaign to attack Chasov Yar began on April 4, 2024 and ended with the city being overrun on July 31, 2025. Currently, the Russian army is still conducting “clean-up” operations, clearing mines and moving some units on the front line into temporary defense, in order to prevent AFU counterattacks and prepare for further combat plans. The city of Chasov Yar was not a very big target, but why did it take the RFAF more than a year to overrun it? The reasons why it took so long to gain control of Chasov Yar are explained by the following objective reasons: First of all, it can be affirmed that the RFAF’s Chasov Yar operation was one of the most difficult battles and required significant resources from Moscow. However, the main task of the RFAF in Chasov Yar was not to quickly capture the city, but to “wear down” the Ukrainian troops in the city and the surrounding area, where the Ukrainian troops relied on a system of solid fortifications. To better understand the complexity of the offensive operation, it should be noted that between Chasov Yar and the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk cluster at different times there were about 35 separate brigades and battalions of the AFU. Each fortified position of the Ukrainian troops had to be literally "dismantled".
The Russian forces involved in the Chasov Yar operation did a huge job and gradually broke through the AFU's solid, concrete-built defense line. After the loss of Bakhmut, the AFU sent a large reserve force to Chasov Yar. The number of FPV UAVs used by the AFU was countless. Therefore, each stage of the operation required careful preparation by the RFAF. Along with that, the rugged terrain of Chasov Yar, the Severski Donets - Donbass canal flowing through the city, is a major obstacle; the dense urban density located on high hills, factories, dense forests, lakes..., interspersed with many defensive structures. In addition, the Ukrainian army also densely deployed mines in some directions, making it impossible for the Russian army to advance quickly. Faced with these difficulties, the RFAF General Staff certainly did not want to implement the “meat grinder” scenario, so the attacks on Ukrainian positions were combined with many techniques, tactics, and strategies, making maximum use of flank attacks, strangulation of supplies, and many other measures. After each stage of the campaign, the Russian command on the Chasov Yar front needed time to analyze the situation and develop new measures, adjusting tactics. The experience gained at Chasov Yar would now be used when attacking other cities. Although the Russian advance was slow, the Ukrainian reserves were severely depleted and Kiev had less and less chance of stabilizing the entire battlefield. The RFAF advance at Chasov Yar may have seemed “unimpressive” in the media space, but overall it had a strong impact on the enemy.
Western experts are trying to analyze the RFAF's tactics. They pay special attention to the fact that the RFAF is acting according to a "small steps" strategy, while demonstrating specific moves in some areas such as the attack on the city of Chasov Yar. The general conclusion was that, despite careful preparation, the AFU resistance at Chasov Yar eventually came to an end. Despite the “favorable time and place”, they could not withstand the RFAF’s fierce firepower and cunning tactics. That was also an inevitable outcome. The failure of the AFU at Chasov Yar should not be underestimated. With sound tactics and courageous fighting spirit, they held the Russian army at this front for 16 months, preventing the RFAF from easily breaking through the “Donetsk Defense Arc”; creating conditions for the reinforcement of the next defense lines.
The fall of Chasov Yar has completely torn apart Ukraine’s eastern defenses. Russian artillery can now cover the city of Kostiantynivka, 5 km away, and the industrial area of Kramatorsk, 16 km away. Further away, this high ground gives Russian forces a foothold into Dnipro province, which produces 60% of Ukraine’s grain. (photo source: Military Review, TASS, Kyiv Independent).
To better understand the complexity of the offensive operation, it should be noted that between Chasov Yar and the Kramatorsk-Slavyansk cluster at different times there were about 35 separate brigades and battalions of the AFU. Each fortified position of the Ukrainian troops had to be literally "dismantled". 
The Russian forces involved in the Chasov Yar operation did a huge job and gradually broke through the AFU's solid, concrete-built defense line. After the loss of Bakhmut, the AFU sent a large reserve force to Chasov Yar. The number of FPV UAVs used by the AFU was countless. Therefore, each stage of the operation required careful preparation by the RFAF. 
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